I have dedicated the last 40 years to playing and coaching basketball. My journey began in my hometown of Union City, where I played varsity basketball for three years at Union Hill High School. From 1992 to 1996, I played point guard for Caldwell College, on a team that went to two NAIA National tournaments. After earning my degree in History, I became a teacher and high school basketball coach. In 1998, I took on the role of Varsity Head Coach at St. Joseph of the Palisades High School, where I coached until its closure in 2009. During this time, we won three County Championships, and I had the privilege of coaching several Division I, II, and III players.
My next chapter brought me to Bogota High School, where I served as Vice Principal and later as Girl's Varsity Basketball coach for three seasons before stepping down in 2016 when I was appointed Principal of Bogota High School. Since then, I have coached Caldwell travel basketball for grades 4-8 and coached NJ Hoop Stars AAU, coaching boys' high school teams for the last two years.
Damian Kennedy - Director
Chris Checchetto - Head Coach
With over three decades of experience in coaching at various levels and a committed career in education, I am passionate about helping individuals reach their full potential. As a former Division One athlete at Rutgers University, I earned my degree in Sports Management and began my coaching journey as the varsity assistant girls' basketball coach at Mt. St. Dominic. After obtaining my post-baccalaureate teaching certification from Caldwell University, I started my teaching career at Cedar Grove in 2000. There, I served as the freshmen basketball coach for one season before taking over as the varsity girls' coach for the next four seasons, earning Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2002.
In 2004, I transitioned to head coach of Cedar Grove's baseball team, where I received Conference Coach of the Year accolades and led the team to a conference and state championship. While coaching, I pursued my MA in Education Leadership and, in 2008, accepted the Principal position at Gould School in North Caldwell, where I have served for the past 16 years. My love for coaching continued with roles such as varsity assistant boys' coach at Montville, middle school basketball coach at West Essex, and currently as the varsity assistant baseball coach at West Essex. Additionally, I have coached boys' travel basketball for Caldwell and West Essex, achieving multiple championships.
I am thrilled to join Essex Elite Hoops, where I can blend my passion for teaching and coaching to support our student-athletes in achieving success both on and off the court!
Grace Cannon - Head Coach
Grace Cannon is a former collegiate basketball player at Ithaca College, where she scored over 1,200 career points and earned First Team All-Region and All-District honors, as well as becoming the program’s first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American. She holds a Master’s degree in Entertainment and Media Management and brings a strong background in leadership, player development, and coaching.
Grace is entering her second year as the Head Coach of the Glen Ridge High School Varsity Girls Basketball team and has continued to coach and develop athletes at multiple levels. She is passionate about helping players grow both on and off the court, building confidence, and creating a team-first culture rooted in hard work, connection, and accountability.
Pat Brunner - Head Coach
A recent inductee into the Bloomfield High School Hall of Fame, Coach Patrick Brunner has solidified his place among the greatest basketball minds in New Jersey. Over his distinguished career, he amassed 209 victories as the head coach of the Bloomfield Boys Basketball team, ranking just behind Bengal legends George Cella and Bill Foley. With an overall career total of 320 wins, Coach Brunner’s name stands firmly among the elite in state history.
Recognized as Coach of the Year at both the County and State levels, Coach Brunner’s leadership reached its peak when he guided Bloomfield to the 2017 NJSIAA Sectional Championship—Bloomfield’s first in four decades, dating back to the storied 1977 squad led by Kelly Tripucka. His ability to develop players, instill discipline, and prepare teams for the highest levels of competition is well documented and widely respected across New Jersey basketball circles.
Now, his expertise and deep knowledge of the game will directly benefit our athletes, particularly our high school boys. As we begin forming a select travel team, Coach Brunner’s experience will be instrumental in preparing our players for “live period” events in the Spring and Summer. His track record of success, coupled with his reputation for player development, ensures that our athletes will not only sharpen their skills but also gain exposure and opportunities to compete on the biggest stages.
Casey Bray - Head Coach
Coach Casey played collegiately at the University of Bridgeport and brings valuable Division I coaching experience from her time at Long Island University. In addition to the college level, she has coached across multiple AAU and recreational programs, most recently working with players in Verona.
With a passion for player development and growing the game, Coach Casey is committed to helping athletes build confidence, skills, and a love for basketball.